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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Postcards


trenchtrotter

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On 25/01/2020 at 21:07, Muerrisch said:

No trace, absolutely no trace, of stitch marks, round the badges. Weird or brilliant craftsmanship or the photo.


The Master Tailor or one of his best apprentice ‘boys’ has done a superb job.  The badge was embroidered upon a large panel of cloth and in this case it has been set into the unpicked and resecured shoulder seam at the top.  At the bottom it extends down the arm to precisely midway down the three sergeants stripes and you can see the neat seam on either side of the stripes in the exact centre of the middle stripe.

 

NB.  The quality of such hand-embroidered badges at that time was superb and simply cannot compare with the computer programmed machine stitched badges of today.  See the current issue Royal Marines Colour Sergeant badge enclosed.  You get what you pay for and the current badge epitomises what the bean counters think that the ‘tradition’ is worth to them.

 

 

 

 

F529E0BE-A264-447A-ACAB-4BA85C6286AA.jpeg

 

CE664250-53FB-4A9F-B220-384744992531.jpeg

Edited by FROGSMILE
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3 hours ago, Muerrisch said:

No trace, absolutely no trace, of stitch marks, round the badges. Weird or brilliant craftsmanship or the photo.

The Colour Sgt's Laurel badge appears to have been embroidered directly onto a large portion of cloth which has then been used to create the upper half of the sleeve.
If you look on either side of the middle Sgt's chevron you can see a join. I am certain there is a name for the technique used, but my wife who is the sowing expert in this house has turned in for the night.

Sepoy

NB Sorry for the long delay in posting this (I have been well beaten by Frogsmile who explained it so much better). Regretfully, I was called away to help with my Mothers care, before hitting the send button. It was some while before I could get back to the laptop.)

Edited by Sepoy
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The Royal Sussex Regiment on manoeuvers.
This photograph (taken between 1908 - 1912) shows Soldiers, possibly in Devon/Dartmoor, crossing a clapper bridge.
They are carrying .303 SMLE No1 Mk1 rifles complete with floating charger guides attached to the bolt heads.
It is nice to note the unmodified 1908 Pattern webbing left hand ammunition carriers and also the cyclist in the background.
A wide neck water bottle and at least one cloth shoulder title can also be seen.

Sepoy

Untitled-11a.jpg

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Very nice indeed! I see a three- GC badge and marksman lance-corporal, so [with a very, very minor caveat] this is a Regular battalion.

 

The caveat? A long story ............

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Hi

the haversacks all look rather unusual in shape and a bit large for 08 so possibly converted 03

a stunning picture

Edited by Dave1418
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On 28/01/2020 at 15:54, Sepoy said:

The Royal Sussex Regiment on manoeuvers.
This photograph (taken between 1908 - 1912) shows Soldiers, possibly in Devon/Dartmoor, crossing a clapper bridge.
They are carrying .303 SMLE No1 Mk1 rifles complete with floating charger guides attached to the bolt heads.
It is nice to note the unmodified 1908 Pattern webbing left hand ammunition carriers and also the cyclist in the background.
A wide neck water bottle and at least one cloth shoulder title can also be seen.

Sepoy

 

 

ohhh very nice. Everything I love about the era. As you say early 08, Mk 1SMLEs, MkV Waterbottle and converted GS haversacks! thank you for posting.

Edited by Toby Brayley
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Sent Postcard. An impromptu "boxing match" featuring the 2nd Btn Coldstream Guards. Note the scruffy Guardsman at the rear! 

 

 

1513766758_ColdstreamGuardsc1906boxing.jpg.c4ba5a2d0ca66df924cad328a28fcb75.jpg

 

 

 

 

More Guardsmen with hands in their pockets.

 

36275992_2054633214777836_9191628358771802112_o.jpg.14e3d43d3b6a92f6c1c35f3123986149.jpg

 

We had better tell the NCOs...Oh ... 

68957122_2331811823726639_6052709711592030208_n.jpg.4e6974dfcebec4e204a14353b82e7dc1.jpg

 

Edited by Toby Brayley
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Talking to old soldiers (Guardsmen) when I was young I was told that before National Service things were significantly more relaxed.  Apparently, with the influx of hordes of conscripts, whose service was mainly destined to be short, the Army hierarchy decided that discipline must be unrelentingly sharp.  That, along with the fact that there was rarely enough meaningful activity, and officers still kept aloof when compared with later on, led to things like cutting grass with nail scissors and painting coal, etc.

Edited by FROGSMILE
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An early WW1 group photograph (Winter 1914 - 1915) containing mixed Yeomanry NCOs receiving Musketry training (or part of a shooting team).
It is interesting to note the two Corporals wearing Kitchener Blues and 1908 Pattern Webbing Equipment, whilst the Yeomanry NCOs are wearing 1903 Pattern Leather Equipment. They are all armed with .303 SMLE No1 Mk III Rifles.
I like the fact that the Instructor of Musketry is keeping toaty in his Mounted Pattern Warm (Great Coat).
Sepoy

NB I have just noticed the Piling Swivels on the SMLEs.
Some correctly have them fitted just below the nose cap, but others have ordinary Sling Swivels fitted instead just below the nose cap?
In fact, the Staffordshire Yeomanry NCO does not have a forward Sling Swivel fitted in its normal place!

IMG_0092.jpg

Edited by Sepoy
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What a super photo!  It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a School of Musketry instructor wearing an overcoat whilst sitting with his squad of students.  It’s a typical squad photo and not a shooting team I think.  There’s an especially good view of the instructors cap badge and the glass plate image makes all the other badges clear enough to ID too.  

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2 hours ago, Sepoy said:

NB I have just noticed the Piling Swivels on the SMLEs.
Some correctly have them fitted just below the nose cap, but others have ordinary Sling Swivels fitted instead just below the nose cap?
In fact, the Staffordshire Yeomanry NCO does not have a forward Sling Swivel fitted in its normal place!

 

It was a common Yeomanry thing to have the sling mounted between the upper swivel and where the piling swivel would be, eg:

 

Yeoman sling 1.jpg

 

Yeoman sling 2.jpg

 

Edited by Andrew Upton
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Dear All,

For general interest I attach:-

502230 Spr Piper, F. J. T.,1372687106_502230SprPiperF.J.T.SignalCoy.Sinai_EEF.jpg.bbc6e0d14a686d47fc564bea1d126b65.jpg Signal Coy., taken at Sinai, EEF.

Kindest regards,

Kim.

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10 hours ago, Andrew Upton said:

 

It was a common Yeomanry thing to have the sling mounted between the upper swivel and where the piling swivel would be, eg:

 

 


That method of fixing a sling originated with the mounted infantry in the very late 1870s, I seem to recall.  Whereas cavalry of all types were still using carbines, the MI were of course equipped with the Martini-Henry rifle and I think that was probably the first long arm to be carried utilising a shortened sling and leather butt-bucket.
 

NB.  Some MI units were given the carbine.

 

523620D9-6C02-44B4-B191-9F6E17783B43.jpeg

B7B274AC-EB4F-48DD-8FA9-9C790B7569C3.jpeg

830B644B-475A-488F-A525-BC30B7495693.jpeg

FE83148C-DFD1-4C7F-8714-DCC4903781CE.jpeg

94E0246B-A75F-4C76-8926-56BF7D26AECA.png

Edited by FROGSMILE
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16 hours ago, Sepoy said:

 

IMG_0092.jpg

Love this Sepoy!

What are the Regiments of the standing left first and second?

Standing L to R

Cheshire Yeo, or one of the Welsh Yeo's?

No idea

Lancashire Hussars

Loyal Suffolk Hussars

Hampshire Carabiniers

Wiltshire Yeomanry????

 

Seated L to R

 

??

North Devon Hussars

SoM

Staffs Yeo, nice Victorian crown 

??

 

Chris

 

 

 

 

 

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15 hours ago, Kimberley John Lindsay said:

Dear All,

For general interest I attach:-

502230 Spr Piper, F. J. T.,1372687106_502230SprPiperF.J.T.SignalCoy.Sinai_EEF.jpg.bbc6e0d14a686d47fc564bea1d126b65.jpg Signal Coy., taken at Sinai, EEF.

Kindest regards,

Kim.

Thanks for posting, Kim - makes me wish I knew more about horses and associated kit, though. I assume he was a rider with a cable wagon, perhaps. Just out of interest do you know which Sigs Company? I note the Imperial Service tablet, and his medal rolls (BW&V) state his pre-1917 TF number as 1344, though typically they don't identify any unit/s. Also, now I look closer that's a rather atypical Middle Eastern background, I wonder where in the region it might've been taken.

 

Cheers, Pat

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Unsent Postcard of a Private from the Norfolk Regiment in India . A fine study of the 5 button "Foreign Service" Frock and Wolseley style helmet. The clarity is superb, you can even read the text on his cap badge.

 

259927299_NorfolkFS1900s.jpg.d26d26df7f54e4d02307860b2d9e509c.jpg

 

1713270139_NorfolkFS1900s2.jpg.08635d49020ae75be1290b9a2de39512.jpg

 

1331702451_NorfolkFS1900s3.jpg.e3b3d40fb5849e2cde30a40e0c3a1b6c.jpg

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That is an absolute cracker, Toby, and it is apparent that the Dorset’s battalion concerned wore a pagri/puggaree on the helmet in the green colour that matched the facing of the collar.

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Dear Pat,

I have no further Information to Hand about Sapper Piper, unfortunately. I knew his son well (a former Royal Marine), now deceased. 

Indeed, the background looks unlike Sinai, but there we are...

Kindest regards,

Kim.

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Hi Frogsmile,

as a CDV collector I love the Davies Brother photo taken in Johannesburg in#7363! From the design of the CDV I´d guess late 1890s?

GreyC

Edited by GreyC
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7 hours ago, GreyC said:

Hi Frogsmile,

as a CDV collector I love the Davies Brother photo taken in Johannesburg in#7363! From the design of the CDV I´d guess late 1890s?

GreyC


Yes, GreyC, around 1899-1900.

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17 hours ago, FROGSMILE said:

That is an absolute cracker, Toby, and it is apparent that the Dorset’s battalion concerned wore a pagri/puggaree on the helmet in the green colour that matched the facing of the collar.

 

 

He is a Norfolk regiment chap, so it will be yellow. I purchased a job lot of the same man and some other Norfolks.

 

1325127184_NorfolkWhites1.jpg.acf36744fa8119c27fd16a6f7aa08a21.jpg

 

1259979466_NorfolkWhites3.jpg.b29dbba93d6b712df5b7037df01a52d7.jpg

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Yes, of course! Mea culpa, I must’ve had Dorset on the brain, as it’s where I’m visiting now. 

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Territorial Force (T 3 ?), interesting location of the Scout badge and the first time I have see it worn with the MG in wreath. 1153482300_MGScouts.jpg.3799248a4383526790fec2c916b4feb0.jpg

 

 

Edited by Toby Brayley
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The man centre back looks older than the others and his jacket looks lighter in colour with non brass buttons and to my eye deeper chest pockets.  

Edited by Gardenerbill
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3 minutes ago, Gardenerbill said:

The man centre back looks older than the others and his jacket looks lighter in colour with non brass buttons and to my eye deeper chest pockets.  

 

 

Yes, I would say they are rifles buttons with the strung horn, the chap seated front has the pressed leather GS buttons. 

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